Brasília (DF) – Brazil’s Minister of Defense, José Mucio Monteiro, and Slovakia’s Minister of Defense, Robert Kalinak, have signed a letter of intent to promote commercial opportunities for military transport aircraft. The agreement signed on Tuesday (10), during a visit by the Slovak delegation to Brazil, also aims to boost defense industrial cooperation.
The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral relations in the defense sector and increase participation in joint scientific and technological cooperation activities. The cooperation also establishes the formation of a working group focused on the areas of capacity building, training and exchange of experiences related to the operation of the Embraer C-390 Millennium, as well as industrial cooperation on defense products from both countries.
The C-390 aircraft can be used to transport passengers, equipment and supplies in missions and operations such as aeromedical evacuations, cargo launches and humanitarian support. The aircraft is from the same family as the KC-390 Millennium, but without the aerial refueling capability.
According to the Ministry of Defense’s Sub-Headquarters for International Affairs (Scai), the signing of international acts contributes to the projection of Brazilian defense abroad. It also paves the way for companies in the Defense Industrial Base (BID) to have better conditions for entering the foreign market, with the possibility of future benefits for Brazil’s trade balance, generating foreign currency, jobs and income, as well as seeking partnerships for technological development, innovation and research.
During the foreign delegation’s visit, the governments of Brazil and Slovakia also signed a cooperation agreement in the area of defense, which includes research, development, logistical support and the acquisition of products and services.
The group also took part in a meeting with the Secretary of Defense Products of the Ministry of Defense, Heraldo Luiz Rodrigues. “We exchanged a lot of information to increase cooperation in the defense area between the two countries, not only in the defense area, but also in relation to the IDB companies of the two countries, which brought us the possibility of increasing international transactions involving Slovakia and Brazil in the defense area,” said the Secretary.
By Ascom – Photos: Hisaac Gomes